Metal case for containing drawers, shelves, or the like



W. CHIPPERFIELD. I. .METAL CASE FOR CONTAINING DRAWERS, SHELVES, OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17. 1920.

1,355,213, Patented Oct. 12,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

w. CHIPPERFIELD. mm CASE FOR commme mMwERs, SHEL'VES, on THE LIKE.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 17, I920. 1,355,213. Y Patented Oct. 12, 19201 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER GIIIPPERFIELD, 0F ROMFORD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR. TO RONEO' LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, A COMPANY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

METAL CASE FOR CONTAINING DBAWERS, SHELFVES, OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

Application filed February 17, 1920. Serial No. 359,372.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER OHIPIERFIELD, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Roneo WVorks, Romford, in the county of Essex, England, Great Britain, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Metal Cases for Containing Drawers, Shelves, or the like, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in the construction of metal cases for containing drawers or shelves, and particularly is directed to the manufacture of such metal cases from sheet metal.

In the manufacture of such cases of sheet metal it is desirable that they should have a substantial and finished appearance so that they shall form presentable and attractive articles of furniture, and it is further desirable that the component parts shall be capable of being connected together in such manner that the means of connection are not observable and do not call for the employment of screws and bolts, and it is also preferable that the component parts shall be capable of being brought together and locked in proper relation to each other with as little use of tools as possible.

The object of the present invention is to provide a construction of jointing or connection by which these ends may be attained, and the present invention will be described with reference to a type of jointing or connection particularly applicable for the attachment of the side wall to the base, and to the attachment of the middle front post to the base.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood we will describe the same-with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1. is a perspective view of detached portions of a side wall, the base and a locking member constructed according to the present invention. Fig. 2. is a perspective view of similar parts assembled. Fig. 3. is a view similar to Fig. 1. of detached portions of a middle front post, the base and locking member. Fig. 4. is a perspective view of similar parts assembled, and Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary views to illustrate the method of assembling and final locking of the middle post, base and locking memher, and Fig. 8. is a detail to be described later.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 in the attachment of the side wall or front member to the base or second member, the front vertical edge 1 of the side wall 2 is bent into rectangular channel form, as is also the lower edge 3 of the side wall 2.

The edges 4, 5 of the base 6 are also flanged downward at right angles to the surface of the base 6 and the flange 4 of the base 6 adjacent to the side wall 2 is formed with projecting tongues 7 having enlarged ends, which tongues 7 when the parts are brought together, are adapted to pass through corresponding slots 8 formed in the upturned edge 3 forming the inner side of the channel at the base of the side wall 2 so that the said tongues 7 extend into the said channel.

A channel section member 9 of sheet metal is then provided, which is to be located against the side wall 2 and extends from front to back' of the same, and termed the third member 9. One shorter vertical flange 10 of the said third member 9 lies in contact with the interior of the side wall 2, while the opposite vertical flange 11 of the said third member 9 has its lower part bent inward and downward at 9*, so that the line of the bend coincides with the upturned edge of the channel flange 3 at the bottom of the side wall 2. This outer vertical flange 11, of the third member 9 extends downward within the upturned flange 3 of the side wall 2, and is formed ,with open-ended slots 12 which engage the necks of the tongues 7 of the base 6 projecting through the slots 8 of the upturned lower edge 3 of the side wall 2 and so look the tongues 7 of the base 6 to the upturned edge 3 of the side wall 2.

The projecting tongues 7 having enlarged ends instead of being formed in one piece with the flange 4 of the base 6, may if desired be formed separately as shown at 7* Fig. 8. In this case the flange'4 of the base 6 would be formed with a jslot in such a position that it would register with the slot 8 when the parts are brought together, and would permit the part 7* to be passed through both slots and be locked in position by the open-ended slots 12 formed on the third member 9.

The third member has a forwardly projecting tongue 13 which passes within the front vertical channel of the side wall 2 and thereturned front flange 1 of the side wall 2 is cut through so as to form a fin 14 the free end of which can be slightly bent inward by pressure so as to stand into the channel at the frontedge 1 ofthe side wall 2, and when so bent in, the said fin l lrwill stand above the tongue 13 of the third mem her 9 and prevent the latter "being lifted and so -prevent' the disengagement of'the parts. 7 a i Referring to Figs. 3 to 7 the joint of the middle front post 15 ofthe base 6 is constructed on similar lines; that is to say the lower end of the channel section post 15 is formed with tongues 16 projecting downward from its side flanges, the tongues 16 being in the form of rectangular hooks, which tongues '16 can be passed through slots 17 in the upper surface of the base, and by moving the front post 15 somewhat forwardly the hook portion of the tongues V 16 will interlock with the base 6.

The third member 18 which extends from the interior rear edge of the post 15' to the 3 back of the case, is of channel section, so :that when in place its side flanges 19 are flush with the side flanges of the front post 15. This third member has tongues 20- on the lower edges of its flanges which may pass through slots in the base 65 0f the case, and the third member 18 also has forwardly projecting tongues 21 which enter between the flanges of the front post 15, while the lower extensions 22 of the tongues 21 0f the third member 18 pass through the slots 17 in the base 6 side by side with the tongues 16 on the ,lower ends of the front post 15. Provided the third member 18 is not lifted the parts will be locked in position, and inorder to prevent this the side flanges of the post 15 are out through so as to produce fins 23 which can be bent inward into the channel of the frontpost 15, and when so bent inward the fins 23 stand above the forwardly projecting tongues 21 of the third member 18 and pre vent the latter being lifted. t t

The o nts thus described 'comprise as common factors enlarged headed tonguesvon the secondmember enteringslots in the first Y membenand; a third member also formed with tongues wh ch third member, when in place, looks the first and second members in position, the third member being retained in place by fins formed on one of the other 1 members being bent lIltQSUCll a position that of a third member consistin in formin one of the members with slots, another of the members with enlarged headed tongues to enter such slots, and the third or looking member withparts preventing said tongues leaving said slots, and forming one of the two members first mentioned with a fin to be bent after the third orlooking member is in situ to fix the'latter member in its locking position.

2. In connecting together the parts of metal cases for containing drawers, shelves or the like; forming the first member, such as the lower returned flange of a side wall, with slots for receiving enlarged headed tongues extending from the secondmember, such as a base piece, vwhich tongues extend through and beyond the metal in which said slots are formed, and constructing the third member, such as'the. channel section member with a downwardly extending vertical flange having open-ended slots topass astride the necks of the tongues of the secon d member to'lock same in position, said third member being'itself locked in position by finsfo'rmed on one or the other of the first or second members, said fins being bent to form obstructions to the removal'ofthe third member substantially as described.

3. In connecting together the parts of metal cases for containing drawers, shelves or the like; forming the first member, such as the middle front post, with rectangular hooked tongues adapted to pass through slots formed in the second member orb-ass and engage with the latter, and-constructing the 7 third member, such as the locking member, Wlth forwardly pro ecting tongues, said tongues having downwardly pro ecting extensionsvto pass through said slots in said WALTER GHIPPERFIELD; 

